I was on a flight from New York to West Palm the other night. I helped the couple next to me (who were in their 60’s), put a suitcase in the overhead compartment. As soon as we sat, the pilot made an announcement about a long delay due to a mechanical issue with one of the engines. The woman immediately began complaining. She blamed the airline for incompetence. She proceeded to vent for at least 15 minutes. Through our discussion I found out that she was going back to Florida to an empty house. She hadn’t even made a connection from anywhere else.…

Author Simon Sinek stated that “When people are financially invested, they want a return. When people are emotionally invested, they want to contribute.” Positive reinforcement can help cement that emotional investment.

Every day we thank complete strangers for their attention and kindness: the person in front of you holding open a door, a waitress for refilling your coffee, or even a bystander offering to take that family picture of you with your own camera. So why is it so hard for some managers and business owners to say “thank you” to their own employees for a job well done?

The reality is that just giving an employee a pay check is not a “thank you.” That paycheck does not ensure retention or commitment – nor does that token gold watch, gifts with your company logo, or even a raise.…